Doug Fister allowed four hits, walked one and struck out 12 in seven shutout innings Thursday night but did not figure into the decision.AP Photo

PITTSBURGH -- The Detroit Tigers had plenty of opportunities. They failed to cash in on every single one of them.

The Tigers wasted an excellent outing by starter Doug Fister on Thursday night and have now scored in just one of their past 32 innings following their 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 11 innings.

Russell Martin knocked in the winning run for the Pirates with a bases-loaded single off the wall in left field in the bottom of the 11th.

Neil Walker led off the 11th with a single to right field off Tigers relief pitcher Luke Putkonen, who then walked Andrew McCutchen on four pitches. Gaby Sanchez singled past a diving Miguel Cabrera at third base to load the bases. That set up Martin for the game-winning hit.

Fister became the fifth Tigers starter this season to record a 10-strikeout game when he struck out Garrett Jones to end the sixth inning. Fister allowed four hits, walked one and struck out 12 in seven shutout innings.

KEY TO THE GAMEThe Tigers strung together four consecutive singles to start the fifth inning but did not score a single run in the inning. After singles by Matt Tuiasosopo and Brayan Pena put runners on first and second, Avisail Garcia singled to right field. But Travis Snider threw a strike to home plate to get Tuiasosopo trying to score from second base. Doug Fister failed to get a bunt down, then singled to left field to load the bases. But Pena was out at home on a fielder's choice grounder to third by Omar Infante, and Andy Dirks grounded out to end the inning.

TIGERS HIGHLIGHTS-- Miguel Cabrera had his second double of the game in the fourth inning on what appeared to be a surefire single. Cabrera took an extra base when it appeared that Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen took a bit too much time getting to the ball and getting it back in to the infield.

-- Neil Walker singled to lead off the fourth inning for the first hit of the game for the Pirates, but he was quickly erased when Pena threw him out at second on a steal attempt. That turned out to be extremely important since the next two Pirates also singled. Instead of scoring the first run of the game with no outs, the Pirates had runners at first and third with one out. Fister then retired the next two batters he faced to escape the inning unscathed.

-- Fister made a nice play on an attempt at a bunt single by Starling Marte to start the sixth inning. Fister raced toward first base, leaned forward to field the ball, then scooped the ball to Prince Fielder at first before sliding head first almost to the bag at first.

-- Infante made an excellent catch on a pop-up into shallow right-center by Brandon Inge with one on and one out in the seventh inning. Snider was running on the pitch and touched second base before retreating back to first. He was called safe after the umpire at first ruled he beat the tag at first while sliding in head first. Snider did not touch second base on his way back to first, but the Tigers did not appeal the play.

-- Cabrera made a diving stop on a sharply hit ground ball by McCutchen to end the eighth inning. The Pirates had a runner at second who would have scored had the ball got past Cabrera.

TIGERS LOWLIGHTS
-- Fister hit Walker with a pitch with one out in the first inning. It was the 12th hit by pitch for Fister, who entered the game with just 10 walks. That tied Fister's career high for HBPs in a season. He also hit 12 batsmen in 2011. Seems like a safe bet that Fister will surpass that at some point.

-- With a runner at third base and two outs in the fourth, Jhonny Peralta took ball one and then looked at three consecutive strikes from starter Jeff Locke. Peralta stood at home plate and spoke with the umpire for a decent amount of time, then was ejected when he apparently said something while on his way back to his position at shortstop. Ramon Santiago replaced him.

-- The Tigers left the bases loaded in the fifth, then stranded two in the sixth and two in the seventh as the game remained scoreless. Through seven innings, the Tigers were 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Garcia, Fister and Infante each had a single with runners in scoring position that failed to score any runs.

OTHER GAME NOTES

-- Cabrera doubled with two outs in the first inning on a drive to right field that bounced once and then over the seats and into the stands down the line. The double was the 400th of Cabrera's career.

-- The final pitching line for Locke: 5.1IP, 7H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 3SO. He threw 96 pitches, 58 for strikes.

-- In addition to a single and a nice defensive play, Fister helped himself out by executing a sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning.

-- Fister is the first Tigers pitcher since at least 1916 to throw seven or more shutout innings and strike out 12 or more without figuring into the decision.

-- Torii Hunter was not in the starting lineup for the Tigers after being hit in the left elbow with a pitch Wednesday night.